#271: Misplaced Priorities

The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

There is a fascinating story in the New Testament about a man with misplaced priorities. It’s found in Matthew 19:16-22. Here’s what the Bible says….

“Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Here is a young man who was doing well. What we know about him is that in spite of his wealth and his accomplishment he still felt there was something missing in his life. This is strange because he is a very religious man. He believed in God and tried his best to do everything he knew he should. The Ten Commandments were a way of life by him. He was a moral man. He didn’t steal or cheat his way to the top. Yet, after having “arrived,” he felt that something was missing.

There are many people today in this position. They are hard working, successful, good, honest, upwardly mobile, moral people. Yet without Christ, there remains emptiness in their lives.

Let’s focus for a few a moment on his question. “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?” His aspirations are good. He’s been thinking about his life and has been trying to do the right thing. But he wants to be sure. How do I get to Heaven? That’s a great question.

But there is a flaw in his question. Something is wrong with his understanding of how to get to Heaven. A lot of people make the same mistake. He thinks that in order to get to Heaven, in order to have a right relationship with God, he has to do a lot of good things: live a good life, give money, be a good neighbor, be a moral person. But the Bible tells us that God’s love and acceptance is not something you can earn.

Jesus gets around to answering his question. He gives him the standard Jewish answer: Obey the commandments.

“Which ones?” the man answered. Just wanting to make sure that he had everything covered.

Jesus says something to him that we would never say to someone we were trying to lead to Christ: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21).

For this man, money was not just an object or a thing. Money had become his God. And Jesus knew it. He is touching this man at the point of his need. And he’s saying, “You’re going to have to give up your idolatry of money before you can be my disciple.”

Would Jesus say to us, “One thing you lack?” Would he identify a stronghold in our lives? It could be so many things: a relationship, power, love of success, pornography, revenge or hatred, life of pleasure.

Here’s the main point of this conversation: If you want to be a follower of Christ, if you are searching for eternal life, you have got to get your priorities straight. What is the most important thing in your life?

Today’s Challenge: Have you made Christ your priority? He is our purpose. He is the center. Truly following Christ impacts every area of your life.